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Feb. 14, 1956 B. L. RAUscH METHOD QF RELIEF OR EMBOSSED PRINTING '2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2, 1952 @p9 2 2 crem A JD Es ZZ HUWE ST.l

ELEIN ILL.

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JUHN KDNES 4+ |22 Howe sT.

ELGIN ILL.

,uw A4 www HrraP/YEX United States Patent() 2,734,452 METHOD F RELIEF 0REMBOSSED PRINTING Burdette L. Rausch, Elgin, Ill. Application October 2,1952, Serial No. 312,687 1 Claim. (Cl. 101--32) My invention relates toan improved method of printlng.

My invention relates more particularly to an improved method of reliefor embossed printing to simulate engraving. v

In the production of embossed printing, the printer usually employs maleand female dies which are prepared in advance by engraving, etching orby some other hand or mechanical process. This is far more expensivethan ordinary printing and is frequently prohibitive because of its highcost.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmethod or process of printing which simulates engraving.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved process ofrelief or embossed printing whereby the depth of the embossing or reliefmay be determined in advance by the printer and printing accomplishedaccording to such determination.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an improved methodof embossed printing wherein both the printing and the embossing areaccomplished in a single operation and without the use of expensive maleand female die parts.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the invention and the mannerof carrying out the same, reference is had to the accompanying drawingswherein the practice of my improved method is illustrated.

ln the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a front view of a portion of a sheet of paper embossed andprinted by my improved process;

Fig. 2 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view therethrough taken online 2 2 of Fig. 1 and showing the ink deposits on the surface of thepaper, and also the depressions on the back surface of the paper tosimulate engraving;

Fig. 3 is a front view of a sheet of paper which has been treated tohave raised letters thereon on both sides and then used as a male diemember in carrying out my process.

Fig. 4 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view thereof taken on theline 4 4 showing the registering letters on both surfaces of the sheetof paper;

Fig. 5 is a generally diagrammatic view of an offset printing pressembodying the features of my invention; and

Fig. 6 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view showing the actualprinting and embossing operation.

In offset printing such as is illustrated herein, the transfer sheet 12containing the desired copy is prepared and fastened on the plate roll13. VInk is obtained from the inking rolls and the copy is transferredto the surface of the rubber blanket on the blanket cylinder 14. SheetsA to be printed are fed down the sheet feed conveyor 18 between theblanket cylinder 14 and the solid impression roll 21. The ink on theblanket cylinder 14 is transferred to the surface of sheet A and it ispassed to the delivery platform 25.

This is the usual method of offset printing. However, to carry out myimproved process, I fasten a treated sheet B to the solid impressionroll 21 for a purpose which will hereinafter be apparent.

The treated sheet B is preferably made from the transfer sheet 12containing the desired copy and may be made in the following manner.After the ink impression has been built up on the rubber blanket and onthe transfer sheet 12, a thin sheet of paper 20 is rolled between thetwo inked images, that is, between the rollers 13 and 14, so that animpression in register on both sides of the paper may be obtained. Thisresults in the image on the back of the sheet being in reverse in exactregister with the image on the front of the same.

While the ink of the imprints on both sides of the sheet B is still wetor moist, the same are powdered with an adhering rosin powder or similarmaterial adapted to fuse and set under the application of heat. Theapplication of heat causes the melting of the resinous compound, theparticles become fused together on the ink, harden, and producegenerally a raised effect, such as shown at 31 and 33 in the enlargedcross-section of sheet B. This is commonly known today as the art ofraised printing or thermography.

After the sheet B has been treated in the manner described, it isattached by a suitable adhesive or other attachment to the surface ofthe solid impression roll 21 in register with the transfer sheet f2 onthe plate roll 13.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the action of the treated sheet B in theprinting process will be more clearly explained.

As sheet A, to be printed, is fed through the press, it passes betweenblanket cylinder 14 carrying the ink for the impression and the solidimpression roller 21. Roller 21, however, has the previously treatedsheet B with the raised letters 31, 33, on both sides fastened to itssurface in such a way that the raised letters are in register with theink impression on the blanket cylinder 14. Thus, as can be seen, whenthe printing operation takes place, the thickness of the raised letters31, 33 will press into the lower surface of the sheet 16 to the depth ofthe thicknesses, creating a cavity or depression 35. This causes araised portion or platform 37 which presses into the yielding rubberblanket and picks up the printing ink impression 39 on the surface ofthe raised portion or platform 37.

rl`hus, by this process, printing and embossing are simultaneouslyaccomplished and the mechanism for effecting the result requires onlythe addition to usual printing equipment of the treated sheet B. Wheredeeper embossing is desired, two or more treated sheets may be fastenedin register on the impression roll.

Since the ink transfer blanket is yieldable, the number of impressionswhich may be obtained from a treated sheet or sheets is considerable. Atpresent, a normal run is over 10,000 impressions; however, the densityof the set ink on the treated sheet and the resiliency or spring of therubber blanket of the blanket cylinder are all factors which contributeboth to the quaiity of the embossing and the printing.

From the above and foregoing, it can be seen that my process is easilyfollowed, and with only the preparation of a sheet of paper havingraised printing, or thermographically treated, the process can becarried out by easily fastening the treated sheet in register on theimpression roll.

While the process has been described with particular reference to andapplied to offset printing operation, it is clear that the process neednot be limited to offset press production. in effect, the treated sheetwhich I employ acts as a male die and against any compressible membersuch as the blanket cylinder of the offset press the process can beeffectively used.

I contemplate that changes and modifications may be made in the exactdetails of the method shown, and l do not wish to be limited in anyparticular; rather what I desire to secure and protect by Letters Patent0f the United States is:

A process of printing and embossing with offset printing equipment whichconsists of attaching a transfer sheet containing the desired copy to aplate roll, applying ink thereto to transfer the copy to a resilientblanket cylinder transferring the ink to the surface of a hardimpression roll, again applying ink to the plate roll and transferringthe ink design to the surface of the blanket cylinder, passing a sheetof paper between the ink blanket cylinder and the impression roll tomake a printed copy on both sides of the sheet of paper, the one sidebeing a reverse print in register with the transfer print on theopposite side, and raising the copy thereon by a thermography process,fastening this treated sheet of paper on the solid impression roll incontact with and below said blanket cylinder with the raised copyportions on the sheet in exact register with the ink design portions ofthe resilient blanket cylinder as determined by the ink depositedthereon from the plate roll and then running blank sheets to be printedand embossed between the blanket cylinder and the impression roll withthe raised printing on the treated sheet in register with the copy onthe transfer sheet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,217,250 Wensel Feb. 27, 1917 1,438,815 Elsen Dec. 12, 1922 1,583,861Smith May 11, 1926 OTHER REFERENCES 235,391 Great Britain June 18, 1925

